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One of the most exciting sound characteristics of the MOTOR Synth is hearing the motors change their speed of rotation (RPM). Due to physical inertia, the motors have an inherent rev-up and down rate. In other words, the motors can not instantaneously change their rotation speed (and consequently the musical pitch). This limitation, however, is musically pleasing. As the inherent pitch slew in most cases is very short, the MOTOR Synth offers to extend the effect with detailed control over the pitch envelope of each voice called ACCELERATION / BRAKE.
ACCELERATION is a rising or falling pitch when a new note gate is triggered. In terms of a pitch envelope, ACCELERATION is the attack stage that can be either positive or negative.
BRAKE is a rising or falling pitch when a note gate is released. In terms of pitch envelope, BRAKE is a release stage that can be both positive and negative.
Note: The ACCELERATION and BRAKE parameters are triggered by the note gate, therefore the effect may be masked by conflicting AMP ENVELOPE settings. For example, if the AMP ENVELOPE has an extremely long attack time and instant release time, the ACCELERATION and BRAKE pitch changes will not be heard, as they will take place during the silent stages of the AMP ENVELOPE.
The ACCELERATION / BRAKE section also offers a different mode in which it functions as a classic portamento instead of a pitch envelope. In this mode, ACCELERATION determines the rate at which pitch rises from a lower to a higher note, while BRAKE determines the rate at which pitch falls from a higher to a lower note.
ACCELERATION / BRAKE is controlled with two rotary knobs FROM / TO and ACCEL / BRAKE for each MOTOR VOICE and there are also additional parameters in the ACCEL / BRAKE SCREEN controlled with the ▷ LEFT & ◁ RIGHT SCREEN ENCODERS.
This list contains an overview of all parameters in this section. For further information refer to the Instructions sub-section.
| PARAMETER | CONTROL | DESCRIPTION | VALUE RANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| [FROM] | FROM knob | Sets the ACCELERATION starting interval in semitones relative to the target pitch. | From - 12 to +12 semitones
Center indent position corresponds to 0 semitones |
| [TO] | ALT + FROM / TO knob | Sets the BRAKE ending interval in semitones relative to the target pitch. | From - 12 to +12 semitones
Center indent position corresponds to 0 semitones |
| Acceleration [ACCEL] | ACCEL knob | Sets the rate of ACCELERATION | “OFF” / from 1 to 100 |
| [BRAKE] | ALT + ACCEL / BRAKE knob | Sets the rate of BRAKE | “OFF” / from 1 to 100 |
| [CURVE] | ▷ LEFT SCREEN ENCODER | Sets the curve of ACCELERATION and BRAKE | from -2 (exponential) through 0 (linear) to +2 (logarithmic) |
| [MODE] | ◁ RIGHT SCREEN ENCODER | Toggles between two modes of ACCELERATION and BRAKE | “TARGET” (functions as pitch envelope)
“GLIDE” (functions as portamento) |
| PARAMETER | CONTROL | DESCRIPTION | VALUE RANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| [FROM] | FROM knob | Sets the ACCELERATION starting interval in semitones relative to the target pitch. | From - 12 to +12 semitones Center indent position corresponds to 0 semitones |
| [TO] | ALT + FROM / TO knob | Sets the BRAKE ending interval in semitones relative to the target pitch. | From - 12 to +12 semitones Center indent position corresponds to 0 semitones |
| Acceleration [ACCEL] | ACCEL knob | Sets the rate of ACCELERATION | “OFF” / from 1 to 100 |
| [BRAKE] | ALT + ACCEL / BRAKE knob | Sets the rate of BRAKE | “OFF” / from 1 to 100 |
| [CURVE] | ▷ LEFT SCREEN ENCODER | Sets the curve of ACCELERATION and BRAKE | from -2 (exponential) through 0 (linear) to +2 (logarithmic) |
| [MODE] | ◁ RIGHT SCREEN ENCODER | Toggles between two modes of ACCELERATION and BRAKE | “TARGET” (functions as pitch envelope) “GLIDE” (functions as portamento) |
| PARAMETER | CONTROL | DESCRIPTION | VALUE RANGE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
[FROM] |
FROM knob |
Sets the ACCELERATION starting interval in semitones relative to the target pitch. |
From - 12 to +12 semitones. |
|||
| PARAMETER | CONTROL | DESCRIPTION | VALUE RANGE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
[TO] |
ALT + FROM / TO knob |
Sets the BRAKE ending interval in semitones relative to the target pitch. |
From - 12 to +12 semitones. |
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| PARAMETER | CONTROL | DESCRIPTION | VALUE RANGE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Acceleration [ACCEL] |
ACCEL knob |
Sets the rate of ACCELERATION |
“OFF” / from 1 to 100 |
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| PARAMETER | CONTROL | DESCRIPTION | VALUE RANGE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
[BRAKE] |
ALT + ACCEL / BRAKE knob |
Sets the rate of BRAKE |
“OFF” / from 1 to 100 |
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| PARAMETER | CONTROL | DESCRIPTION | VALUE RANGE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
[CURVE] |
▷ LEFT SCREEN ENCODER |
Sets the curve of ACCELERATION and BRAKE |
From -2 (exponential) through 0 (linear) to +2 (logarithmic) |
||||
| PARAMETER | CONTROL | DESCRIPTION | VALUE RANGE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
[MODE] |
◁ RIGHT SCREEN ENCODER |
Toggles between two modes of ACCELERATION and BRAKE |
“TARGET” (functions as pitch envelope) |
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The graph on the left of the ACCELERATION / BRAKE SCREEN illustrates the X axis for [ACCEL] and [BRAKE] duration and the Y axis for [FROM] and [TO] intervals.
The graph on the right indicates the real-time ACCELERATION / BRAKE status for each motor of the given voice.
The primary way for accessing the ACCELERATION / BRAKE SCREEN is to turn either FROM / TO or ACCEL / BRAKE knobs of the MOTOR VOICE. This opens the ACCELERATION / BRAKE SCREEN for that voice.
An alternative way to access different voices (V1, V2, DCO) in the ACCEL SCREEN is to use the < & > arrow buttons in the bottom left corner of the MOTOR Synth. This navigation option is suggested by the small arrow symbols [< >] at the top of the ACCEL SCREEN.
The [FROM] parameter determines the initial interval that each new note of that particular VOICE will travel from. This parameter is controlled by a center indent potentiometer, where the 12 o’Clock position represents the zero value, meaning that the ACCELERATION effect is disabled.
To set an ascending ACCELERATION interval, turn the FROM knob counterclockwise (left from the center indent position). To set a descending ACCELERATION interval, turn the knob clockwise (right).
The [FROM] parameter indicates the relative starting interval in semitones. For example, the CCW position of -12 semitones will give one octave rising pitch with each triggered note until the target pitch is reached.
Turn the ACCEL knob to set the rate at which each new note will reach the target pitch from the [FROM] interval. To turn the [ACCEL] effect “OFF”, fully rotate the ACCEL knob counterclockwise (CCW) to its minimum position.
Note: If the [ACCEL] rate is set longer than the performed note gate, the target pitch will not be reached in the given time. This will result in out-of-tune target pitch - similar to how a note will not reach full volume if the AMP ENVELOPE attack is longer than the gate. This needs to be taken into consideration when performing with the SEQUENCER or ARPEGGIATOR where in many cases the gate will be set shorter than the available [ACCEL] rates. This can be monitored in the right-hand side graph in the ACCELERATION / BRAKE SCREEN, indicating the motor target . In most cases this effect would be avoided, however it can be used to achieve a unique detune effect.
Turn the ALT + FROM / TO knob counterclockwise (left from the center indent position) to set a descending BRAKE interval, or turn it clockwise (to the right) to set an ascending BRAKE interval. The [TO] parameter indicates the relative final interval in semitones. For example, a [TO] interval of +5 semitones will produce a perfect fourth rise from the target pitch with each released gate.
Turn the ALT + ACCEL / BRAKE knob to set the rate with which each released note will fall or rise to the [ TO] interval. The CCW position sets the [BRAKE] to “OFF”.
Turn the ▷ LEFT SCREEN ENCODER to adjust the [CURVE] for both ACCELERATION and BRAKE parameters. Negative values will produce an exponential curve, positive values will produce a inverse exponential curve.
The default ACCELERATION / BRAKE [MODE] is “TARGET” which is described previously in this section. An alternative [MODE] is “GLIDE”, which functions as a classic portamento between pitch changes. In this mode [FROM] and [TO] parameters are unavailable, as these are determined by the intervals between notes performed.
Turn the ◁ RIGHT SCREEN ENCODER to toggle between “TARGET” and “GLIDE” modes.
The MOTOR Synth offers detailed control over the portamento effect. The [ACCEL] parameter sets the portamento rate for when the pitch is rising and the [BRAKE] parameter for when the pitch is falling.
Turn the ACCEL knob to set the rate at which a motor will rev up to a higher RPM when a new note is triggered.
Turn the ALT + ACCEL / BRAKE knob to set the rate at which a motor will rev down to a lower RPM when a new note is triggered.
Note: The ACCEL / BRAKE functionality is polyphonic - each motor has it own separate ACCELERATION and BRAKE. If the performance consists of sparse monophonic parts the glide will not be always heard as each new note will likely be assigned to a new motor. If glide is required for monophonic performances, set the voice’s POLYPHONY SETTINGS to “DUO” or “UNI” depending on the performance.
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